Chapter Eighteen:

Ichigo was floating, or was he sinking? He wasn't really sure. Everything was a muddle of emotions and feelings and aches and pains. He didn't really feel himself. Kind of detached but not in the way he was used to, it wasn't so much an emotional sensation as it was a psychological one. How odd.

"God ya really are intolerable. Thinkin' so much even in this state."

Flinching, Ichigo cracked his eyes open. His entire body hurt, it felt as though he had been in a fight with Kenpachi; his chest was sore but as he glanced down he realised the wound he'd sustained previous was healed, without so much as a trace of it ever having existed to begin with. His Hollow had been at work while he'd been unconscious... He wasn't sure if he should be grateful or not, after all, the Hollow had surrendered to Aizen with only a single order. Why was that?

To further his astonishment at the current situation he found himself in, he discovered he wasn't restrained; he sat up as soon as that thought clicked in his head and keeled back over immediately as the world spun in a dramatically sickly manner. Pain spiked through his skull like a spear and made bile rise in his throat.

Blinking through it, he avoided being sick, and instead tried to focus on where he was and what was going on. The ground beneath him was rocky, dusty, uncomfortable. Stone. The bulk of beige stone was familiar, although he was used to seeing it from a distance.

Sôkyoku Hill. It was as intimidating up close as it was from afar. The stark white tower of the Senzaikyū rose up and almost seemed to breach the heavens from his current position – which he noted, was on his back not far from the resting place of the Sôkyoku itself. The huge Zanpakutō was more intimidating up close than it had ever been from the barracks far below the rock face, huge and overwhelmingly powerful, he felt himself shrink inwards in response.

He felt a weight of enormous guilt settle in the pit of his belly, remembering in drabs the events of Aizen's private quarters. Renji was dead, and Aizen knew that Rukia held the Hōgyoku within her very being.

'Shit!'

Sitting up, rather more carefully, he looked around the dusty landscape, it was well illuminated thanks to the presence of the full moon overhead. Aizen and Tōsen were stood close together, discussing something which looked important, judging by their expressions; just as he believed Gin was missing completely the silver haired fox appeared from nowhere, his right hand buried firmly in the dark hair Ichigo recognised so well.

Rukia.

She looked terrified, and he was certain that her terror wasn't just because of her perpetual fear of Gin. She was clever enough to know when something was amiss, and to be fair, it was hard to say the situation was normal given how she appeared to have been dragged from her very bed by the fox. Her cheek was bruised and there was a shallow cut above her brow, she'd put up a fight.

"Aizen Taichou, apologies for my lateness." Gin's smile was unwavering, though Ichigo could see a small cut on his bottom lip, his heart swelling with pride that Rukia had successfully marked the man.

"It is no bother, Gin, I see you have our most honoured guest." The brunet glanced over his shoulder towards them, "I fear we are short on time, according to Tōsen... Someone blabbed to Yamamoto."

"Ne, you mean Kuchiki wasn't the only one investigating?"

"It would appear that is the case." His tone was somewhat less than impressed, "I fear we shall be interrupted quite shortly."

Taking that as a sign to stop his teasing Gin hastened forwards, throwing Rukia towards the man before his gaze shifted in Ichigo's direction. The strawberry tensed under his gaze and shuffled back slightly, catching himself trying to appear as small as possible was humiliating but in his current predicament he couldn't do anything else.

"Where is he by the way, Tōsen?" Aizen's attention flicked back to his blind companion as he lifted Rukia off her feet with ease.

"Causing mayhem in Division Eleven, I believe." The black man replied, his tone tinged with distaste, "I still believe it was a mistake to bring him here, he enjoys violence and the destruction it causes far too much, smearing justice and uprooting all that is right."

"Are ya seriously harpin' on about justice at a time like this?" Gin asked in disbelief, "We are literally betrayin' Soul Society right now."

"Enough," Aizen breathed, "He indeed enjoys fighting, but he has been tremendously useful during his stay here, and for that I plan to reward him appropriately. However, before that..."

Ichigo swallowed as he watched the brunet turn his full attention on Rukia, free hand delving into his pocket to retrieve the item he'd brought with him. Slotting his finger into the thin tube, a flurry of reiatsu spurned him momentarily before it transformed, taking on a dark bark-like appearance which spread swiftly up his wrist and arm, gnarled spikes of wood speared their way out of the ground around him.

Aizen looked in his element, pleased and smug as his hand reached forward towards Rukia's body. She screamed in pain as a hole opened up in her chest, allowing him entrance to her very soul; he wasn't gentle. Her cries of pain made that obvious.

Watching in horror as the Hōgyoku was removed only moments later, Ichigo watched Rukia sag numbly, her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide yet unseeing. He couldn't begin to imagine the pain of having his soul manhandled so viciously. Aizen tossed her to the ground, turning on the spot as a sigh of glee escaped him, his other hand flourishing the twin orb as the bark dispersed, having done its job.

Aizen held the two Hōgyoku together, watching with an increasing bliss as the two Hōgyoku began to merge, drawing each other close and mingling, sparks flying as the world seemed to snap around them as they joined, becoming one.

Ichigo's heart sank. Aizen had what he'd wanted all along.

The Division Five Taichou sighed softly, rolling the smooth ball in his palm as he considered how well things had gone in the grand scheme of things. All that remained to do was the disposal of the Kuchiki girl, she was worthless now and her brother deserved to suffer for his interference in the entire affair, then they could leave for Hueco Mundo.

Chocolate eyes met chestnut ones.

"Gin, be a good man and dispose of this... Trash." Aizen's hand found Rukia's hair again and she was hoisted clean off the floor, left dangling.

"Yes, Aizen Taichou." The silver haired man seemed almost delighted at the order, drawing his Zanpakutō and resting the blade on his arm, aiming it directly towards Rukia's defenceless body, "Shoot to kill, Shinsō."

"NO!" Ichigo roared, somehow managing to spring to his feet, rushing into a burst of Shunpo with the determination of reach Rukia before the blade did, he knew it was impossible. Gin's sword was too fast.

It was immediate, something Ichigo had become so very familiar with the sight of, and yet this time took his breath away just like every other time had before now. The unrelenting power of denumerable cherry blossoms as they encapsulated themselves around Gin's sword, halting it only inches from Rukia.

Ichigo's gaze snapped around, and he swore he'd never felt more relieved in his life to see the truly enraged expression on Byakuya Kuchiki's face, set like stone but twice as hard, not a single shake visible in his outstretched hand, unhinged fury boiling in his steel eyes. Breathtaking.

Ukitake and Kyōraku were right beside him, Zanpakutō already drawn and in Shikai, their usual carefree demeanour gone and replaced with cold, hard seriousness. He had never seen them look so utterly menacing before.

He almost sank to his knees in relief, people knew about Aizen's true colours. It was over. It was really over.

"You will unhand my sister, Aizen, and release her to me." Byakuya's voice was cutting, there was no room for negotiation there.

"Is that so?" The brunet asked, glancing at the girl still shaking in his grasp, "If you wish to reclaim her... Take her from me."

"With pleasure." The noble growled.

Perhaps it was the impressive personality shift he'd experienced recently, or perhaps it was the stress of the situation catching up with him in its truest form, but as he watched Byakuya Shunpo towards Aizen he was sure the man was moving slower than normal because he was able to keep up with his movements. He felt a tickle of confusion as the man's actions seemed off, for a start he was moving in the wrong direction. What was...

Aizen's eyes met his and a cruel smirk seemed to lift the corners of his lips, in a heartbeat he realised what was happening and his body jerked, moving without permission as a yell broke free from his lips.

"Byakuya!" He shot forwards, feet seeming to glide across the dust; he could see the glint of metal from the corner of his eye and wasn't sure if he would make it in time.

"Need a speed boost, King?"

"Ugh I don't know why the fuck I keep hearing you... But yes." He growled.

A backwash, not dissimilar to an icy bath, swept him away. The swell lifted him and pushed the breath from his lungs as the world seemed to blur and contort around him, a hand shot out and he clasped at the soft fabric of Rukia's sleepwear, pulling her towards him as he carried on moving forwards, holding the bundle of petrified Shinigami against his chest as his free hand moved to where Zangetsu would normally have rested, he gritted his teeth at the empty air, knowing there was only one other way to stop the on coming sword.

Time slowed as the crest hit him, heart stuttering as he saw black film creeping across his vision, swirling and stretching yet not obscuring what he could see. His instinct told him what it was, but he couldn't stop now.

He twisted on the spot, skidding dramatically as he steered his body in front of Byakuya's bewildered one, throwing Rukia towards the noble's open arms.

Ichigo grinned brightly as he saw Byakuya catch his sister, and then turned his attention forward again, sucking in a breath as Gin's blade slid neatly between his third and fourth rib, puncturing through his heart and out the other side; he brought a hand up and clasped it around the blade, stopping it in its tracks as it tried to continue its extension.

He spat blood, body quivering. This was the first time he'd properly been stabbed. It hurt more than he'd expected, but maybe it was the placement of the blade as well, he could feel his heart protesting and straining, it was making his head spin and his face pale, but he refused to relent, fixing his gaze on the silver haired fox.

Gin, for all it was worth, looked shocked. His eyes were open wide, mouth slightly ajar with no hint of his usual smug smile. Ichigo was sure he could see a tremor in his sword hand and could feel the slight reverberation down the blade.

Moving his gaze with a heady clarity, he could see Aizen looking his way as well. The brunet megalomaniac was also startled, but he wasn't sure if it was because Rukia was safely out of his grasp or because his favourite pet now had a blade impaling his body.

He laughed at the thought, it hurt like hell but it made him feel better momentarily to get the bubbling hilarity out. Even at the risk of appearing quite insane.

"Ichi...go..."

Glancing back, he looked at Rukia's wide eyes, and Byakuya's horrified ones, it took him a moment to realise they had both been splashed with his blood when Gin's Zanpakutō had broken through his back. Regretful only that he couldn't turn to them and reassure them, he offered a weak smile instead.

"So... How many more times do I have to save your asses before I can start calling in favours?" He asked.

"You're joking at a time like this? Idiot!" Rukia protested, her eyes shining with tears, "W-What were you thinking?"

He was glad she was starting to come back to awareness after Aizen's mistreatment of her Soul, she still seemed pale and uncomfortable but at least she was talking and yelling at him. It was a good sign, at least in his eyes, that she wouldn't suffer any lasting damage.

"... I wasn't thinking." Ichigo shrugged and instantly wished he hadn't, "Besides, I wouldn't have had to do it if your idiot brother had been looking where he was going properly."

"W-What is that meant to mean?!" Byakuya hissed.

"You've seen his Shikai too, remember." Ichigo muttered, giving him a meaningful glare, "He was leading you straight into Gin's line of fire."

The noble seemed surprised, he hadn't even realised until Ichigo had yelled his name, "But then how did..."

The strawberry gritted his teeth as he felt a curious tugging on the blade in his chest and shot a glower towards the Gin who was trying to free his sword, Ichigo tightened his grip and held it in place.

"You haven't seen his Shikai." Byakuya realised with a whisper.

"Apparently so." He hissed.

Ichigo glanced down at the blade for a long moment, the pain was ebbing away but so was his strength, he could feel the tips of his fingers getting colder by the minute and he knew he was on a countdown. The blackness seeping into his vision was moving faster, threatening to swallow him completely. He knew he couldn't fight it, but he could fight them.

"One of these days..." He huffed, "I'm going to come up with a better type of plan than this..."

"Plan?" Rukia demanded.

"Well... 'Plan' makes it sound intelligent... But it really, really isn't." He admitted reluctantly, "Sorry about that."

"Ichigo... What are you thinking?" Byakuya asked, his voice tight.

His shoulders stiffened at the worry he could hear and he gulped back his hesitation, "I'm afraid that... I'm going to do exactly what Urahara told me not to. I'm going to lose control."

Leaving no time for a response, fearing the logic it would bring to his temperamental and haphazard thoughts, Ichigo yanked himself free from Gin's blade and let out a harsh cry of pain as the barrier broke down. His heart seemed to falter under the sudden release of his precious life force, body spasming in response as it failed to understand what was going on.

In that moment he could truly see, time slowed to a crawl around him, like his eyes had opened to a whole other world. A figure stood directly in front of him, close enough to reach out and touch, vision focusing he let out a long sigh. Pure white skin, fluttering spikes of snowy hair, manic smile, black sclera enveloping glittering gold irises.

"Yo, King."

The silvery, reptilian voice was no less unsettling even when he could finally see who it came from, it was uncomfortable to glare back into his own reflection and see something so different. And yet it was exactly what he had come to realise it would be.

This... This was his Hollow, this was the source of the voice he'd started hearing in Aizen's office. This was the creature that had wrought havoc upon Byakuya in Fugai. This was Aizen's creation.

"Yo." He said softly.

"Ya got a death wish or what?" The albino version of himself was inspecting black fingernails, apparently disinterested in their surroundings.

"Probably. What about you?"

"If you die... So do I. Can't say I'm a fan of that." Gold eyes narrowed.

Ichigo nodded slightly, swallowing heavily, "I'm not strong enough to do this without you."

"Finally ready to admit it, huh? Things must be bad."

"Yeah." He glanced towards the frozen Kuchiki siblings behind him and clenched a fist, "I'm giving you control."

"Eh?"

"I said... I'm giving you control. Enough control to do what you did in Fugai..." He clenched his teeth, "If you've got time to question it then you've got time to fight. Take over!"

"I won't go easy on ya." Those eyes seemed to flicker with excitement.

"Good."

Time sped back up but it didn't matter, Ichigo's back arched and white foam erupting from his mouth; nose and eyes, coiling itself around his face and down his body. It was faster than last time, he accepted it, no longer fighting or resisting. If he stood any chance of protecting what he cared about... He couldn't afford to hesitate.

His mind grew numb to all feelings except one: instinct.

Ichigo knew it was a stupid plan, it wasn't even a plan it was a jumbled suggestion of thoughts and realisations that drove him forwards to act. His Hollow was reckless, uncontrollable and savage. A weapon of death and wanton desire. There was no guarantee of success, no promise of victory. This was about time. Giving the other Shinigami enough time to arrive and intercept Aizen's treachery. That was his hope. And if he was signing his own death warrant, he would do it for the right reasons: his friends.

He wasn't going to die for the Soul King. He wasn't going to die for Aizen. He wasn't even going to die for the distant memory of his lost family. No. This was bigger than that.

He would die for Ukitake. For Kyōraku. For Rukia and Renji. For Kira, Hisagi, Matsumoto and Hinamori. He would willingly die for them. To allow them to see one more sun rise. And Byakuya, the noble had changed his entire life; had turned his world upside down and for a while he'd hated him for it. But now there was nothing more powerful he could imagine to drive him into Death's waiting arms. By the Gods, he would die for Byakuya Kuchiki.

He was sinking fast into an all encapsulating blackness, it seeped into his body and mind, swallowing him like thick and sticky tar, making it hard to draw breath without choking on it. His body protested against the feeling, suffocation making him try to claw for the surface as he was sucked beneath the tidal force of darkness.

The last thing he remembered hearing was laughter. That God awful laughter.

"If ya are weaker than me, then I'll destroy ya, and take that crown for myself, Ichigo!"